NOEL Furlong, owner, trainer and gambler, has died. He was 83.

A successful businessman who founded carpet firm Furlong Flooring in 1980, he is best known in racing circles for his involvement with top-class hurdlers The Illiad and Destriero.

In 1991 Furlong is reputed to have relieved Ladbrokes of £1 million when The Illiad (backed from 33/1 into 7/1), won the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown. It was a timely coup that provided Furlong with much needed funds to discharge an outstanding VAT bill of £500,000.

Furlong then decided to reinvest £300,000 of his winnings on his Destriero to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham at odds up to 6/1. The money was placed in small sums around various offices to disguise the coup. He also had varying amounts on the double with Destriero and The Illiad to win that year’s Champion Hurdle.

Destriero was unbeaten but was not given a Christmas engagement to protect his price. He duly romped home at Cheltenham by four lengths from future Champion Hurdler Granville Again.

Luckily for the bookmakers, The Iliad fell in the Champion Hurdle to thwart the coup, but Furlong had once again ensured a handsome return on his investment.

Eight years later Furlong is believed to have had a massive punt on 1999 Grand Annual Chase winner Space Trucker and later that year he made global headlines by winning the World Poker Championship in Las Vegas and banking $1 million.

Mr Furlong’s family said he died “peacefully at home”. A private funeral is to take place in Dublin, on Thursday, which can be viewed online.

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